Adelaide 36ers and Bryce Cotton will head into a big clash against the Perth Wildcats with momentum after a 25-point triumph over Brisbane Bullets on Friday to make it five wins in a row.
And five-time NBL MVP Cotton, who will return to Perth on Sunday for the first time since departing the club, continued his stellar season in the 90-65 win.
The three-time NBL champion registered six assists and 20 points including 13 in the second quarter, making it the perfect preparation ahead of the big reunion on Perth territory.
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The Bullets had no answers after a tight first quarter as the Sixers led at every break in the game in a convincing performance off the FIBA break.
Former NBA centre Zylan Cheatham was also crucial in the Sixers’ 12th win with 20 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Sixers have won six of their last seven games following the win which also brought about a fifth consecutive victory which they haven’t achieved since March 2018.
Meanwhile the loss for the Javon Freeman-Liberty-less Bullets comes with an added blow after guard Mitch Norton limped off early in the fourth quarter with a suspected rolled right ankle.
The Bullets had only just introduced forward Sam McDaniel from injury for the clash who had had six points and two rebounds from 20 minutes. And with import Casey Prather being ruled out for the season after surgery in November, Norton’s injury continues a horry injury run for the Bullets.
Tyrell Harrison (11 points and 10 rebounds) and Alex Ducas (12 points) impressed most for the Queensland outfit but it wasn’t enough as they went down for a fourth loss on the run.
It was also their lowest score registered for the season.
COTTON DIFFERENCE
It was clear the Bullets had come to play after the margin remained within a possession or two for much of the opening quarter and a half.
But then back-to-back long buckets from the classy Cotton gave the Sixers crucial breathing room as the margin blew out to double digits.
The Sixers ended the opening half with a healthy 17-point lead with Isaac Humphries and Cheatham also stepping up alongside Cotton for the dominant start.
The Sixers then won the third quarter 27-12 to sink the Bullets.
IMPORT’S DEBUT
It was a tough start for new Bullets import Terry Taylor who played 26 minutes and had seven rebounds, two assists and three points on NBL debut.
The forward played 98 NBA games and comes to the league off a strong season with the Stockton Kings in the NBA G-League
BULLET AGAIN
The Bullets haven’t just lost matches recently, they have lost them big and it was much the same for Stu Lash’s side in Adelaide.
After losses by 27, 6, 29 and 37 points in their last four defeats, the 5-11 Bullets continued their poor finishes with a 25-point defeat.
Adelaide 36ers 90 (Cotton 20, Cheatham 20, Humphries 16)
Brisbane Bullets 65 (Ducas 12, Devers 12, Harrison 11)